Endorsement letters: Proposal 3 would be good for Michigan consumers

AP FILE PHOTOFWind turbines at the Harvest Wind Farm are seen April 21, 2008, in Oliver Township in rural Huron County. In summer 2011, Michigan's wind power base began to expand greatly with the start of construction of 133 turbines in Gratiot County. Parts for that wind farm are being shipped through Muskegon.

Proposal 3 would put Michigan at 25 percent renewable energy by 2025 and be great for our state. A Michigan State University study found that it would generate thousands of jobs and bring $10.3 billion in new investments to our state.

Right now, we send $1.7 billion a year out of Michigan to purchase coal. Why not keep that money in-state as Michiganders produce their own energy? Consumers Energy and DTE have put out a massive disinformation campaign claiming the proposal will skyrocket consumers’ rates. Actually, it’s written in the proposal that rates won’t be allowed to increase more than 1 percent per year, much better than the 10 percent a year increase the average consumer has been experiencing.

The real reason for the utility companies’ opposition is that in 2008, lobbyists pushed through legislation that gave them a 90 percent monopoly on the utility market. As former Michigan Republican Chairman Saul Anuzis noted in his letter of support, they’re worried if this proposal passes, there will be pressure to actually open up utilities to the free market. Consumers will want to start purchasing renewable energy directly from the producers, bypassing the costly utility companies that producers are forced to sell to.